20.—(1) This regulation applies to a person to whom child benefit is payable for an uninterrupted period beginning before and ending after 15th March 1982.
(2) A person to whom this regulation applies may make an election to have the benefit paid weekly after 15th March 1982 if—
(a)he makes it before the end of the period of 26 weeks beginning with the day on which benefit was payable for the first four weeks in respect of which arrangements for four-weekly payment were made;
(b)in the case of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits Act, he was absent from Great Britain on 15th March 1982 for any of the reasons specified in paragraph (3) and he makes the election before the end of the period of 26 weeks beginning with the first week in respect of which benefit became payable to him in Great Britain on his return; or
(c)in the case of benefit under the Contributions and Benefits (NI) Act, he was absent from Northern Ireland on 15th March 1982 for any of the reasons specified in paragraph (3) and he makes the election before the end of the period of 26 weeks beginning with the first week in respect of which benefit became payable to him in Northern Ireland on his return.
(3) The reasons specified in this paragraph are that the person—
(a)was a serving member of the forces;
(b)was the spouse of such a serving member; or
(c)was living with such a serving member as husband or wife.
(4) “Serving member of the forces” means a person, other than one mentioned in Part 2 of Schedule 6 to the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001(1), who, being over the age of 16 years, is a member of any establishment or organisation specified in Part 1 of that Schedule (being a member who gives full pay service) but does not include any such person while absent on desertion.
S.I. 2001/1004.